New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
ELECTRIC LIGHT METHODS.
THE CITIZENS COMPANY OF BROOKLYN

CHIEF ENGINEER NEvIxs "BUB" M'LAuGHLIN
AND PRESIDENT COOPER EXAMINED.
Tho examination OF Chief Engineer Nevins, OF the
Brooklyn Fire Department which was begun on rriuay
by the Assembly Investigating Committee, was resumed
yesterday and occupied the greater part OF the
The witness claimed that he knew nothing ABOUT tne
placing Of Baltimore and Ohio wires the fire telegraph
poles. Permission to do so had been given
to the company by Commissioner rartrioee.
The Board OF Aldermen, he said, passed.
resolution ordering tho wires to be taken down. pus
Mayor Low vetoed 1t. Mr. Nevins said that ne Kho"
Clark b. Hotchkss lie knew him whom Hotchklss was
connected with the American District Telegraph Com
pany. but had idea that he was connected WIN INC
Baltimore and Ohio Company. The witness declared
that he owned no stock whatever in this nor DID
he have any interest In 1t. The only companies WIN
which he had any transactions were the Brooklyn DIS
trct Telegraph Company and the Citizens Electric S'
Company lie knew of the Williamsburg District leie
graph Company and the Gameweu company
but had no dealings with them. Tho latter con-
supplied the city with fire boxes He bought stock
no SAID, in tho Brooklyn District Telegraph Company
about six or seven years ago. when Charles H. Pond, A.
b. Chandler, w. II. Humstone and w. H. BAKER were
officers of IT. In response to question as 10 the aou
OF stock he owned he replied:
81 don't think have right to answer that question
would just soon tell you as not" The question was
not pressed
OF the woodhouse Fire Supply Company, but he had no
interest in that company Mr. Shepard at this point OF
icred evidence the contracts made between the
Municipal Electric Light Company and the city OF Brook
Ign, and also those made by the city with the
Citizens Electric Illuminating Company. Mr. Nevns
then said that he had obtained his stock In the Citizens
Company through Mr.. Pope, ono OF the trustees. he
knew that the price OF each light mentioned in the con-
tracts OF the different companies 1882 so year.
When no bought his stock the officers OF Tue company m
W. Prendergast and Mr.. Pope OF Pope sewell e Co To
agurson by Mr. shepard IN regard to the growth anu
efficiency Of the Fire department. the chef renned:
Es,sr you 70 gage ~ oi @ e AVERAGE loss IRE wa,
5000 from tat time m until you
TO the average for last year which IS ~. chat o-,
had been granted by the City Works Department to tho
Baltimore and Ohio Company to string wires on the nre
Under Sheriff Bub" Mclaughlin was called to en-
tighten the committee in regard TO the Citizens Electric
Light Company, OF which he secretary ana treas
three years He said that lie sigred all me
checks OF the company s9 on ads , KNEW MEM AZ Mr. Pon
attempted 10 obtain some further information the Wiz
meas buntly asked him what rSht ne had 70 ASK s1S
questions. Anthony Barrett, he said, was one OF inc
stockholders OF the concern which he attempted to show
above reproach suspicion In Its methods OF
dealing with the city. -
Eugene r Ly nch president OF the United States Elec
trio Illuminating Company explained the dincrcnce
between the various OF electric lighting HIS
company had tried IN vain TO get contract with BROOK
Ign Notwithstanding the better terms IL offered. ne
too high. OF the electric lights In Brooklyn he
added, not up Ia the stannAfu
Charles Cooper president OF the Citizens Electric Com
pany the Municipal District Company was the next
witness The lawyer he at Temple Court In reference
10 the Citizens Electric Light Company he SAID was
Horace T.. Demng, eI-prcsdent oil the Young RepuD-
lean Club, and who had something to do
with the election Of Seth Low for Mayor After
some pressing he said that the directors OF tho company
were Hugh Mclaughlin John Dcmar. Anthony Barrett
Thomas T. keyins and himself He refused 10 give the
amount OF stock owned by each This he thought pr-
waite matter. ,, - -,
Colonel Baconwe will subpoena the company's books and
tasO possession OF them
Colonel Bacon-Wel, We do. .
The witness continuing. said there written and
verbal arrangements between his company and the Fire
Department lie may have talked 10 Chief Neyins upon
tho subject lie had known the stock or the Citizens
Company sell high Sl10 and II was just as easy
10 buy IA 10 sell IT, In NewYOrk there were LIZ cleo.
irc lights which cost $751; 900. aud which displaced
SO 600 gaslghts. In brooklyn there were
100 lights which cost 100000 and displaced
los 900 gaslghts The cost In Brooklyn for LOCO
electric LIGHTS mi gas less than $500 900 ihis
hooklyn getting In the way OF electric
lights for money. The total OF electric and eas
lighting in r,oklyn 900 less than In New York.
From 1871 20 1884 the of light in Brooklyn
$500 600 and there times when IL ss high as
$4,000. In 1872, when tho lighting OF the city cost
$4,000, the population was about 100000 To-day
the was less than 100000 and the population
T. over 10000.
The committee adjourned at o'clock untl tomorrow.